Review: Animal Man

Having retired from his work as a Hollywood stunt man, Buddy Baker devotes himself to becoming a full-time superhero. As Animal Man, Buddy must juggle his family life (which includes a disapproving wife, a rebellious preteen son and an inquisitive young daughter) along with his heroic duties. Can this D-lister make it big and prove to his family that he can make a difference in this world?

Animal Man collects the first nine issues of the series written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Chas Truog and Tom Grummett.

Originally published in 1988, Animal Man came at an interesting time in DC Comics’ publishing history. The company had recently rebooted its continuity and had begun to shift towards more creator-focused material. This included releasing titles with more mature themes, which no longer bore the Comics Code Authority stamp of approval. Grant Morrison and Animal Man were part of this new era, with the former becoming a quirky book that tackled real world family dynamics and environmental issues.

This collection begins with a multi-issue arc where Animal Man investigates a break-in at an animal research facility, thus putting him in direct conflict with a seemingly villainous B’wana Beast. Meanwhile, Ellen Baker struggles with her husband’s decision to become a superhero in between looking after their children and working as a storyboard artist. In these issues, Morrison does a superb job of establishing the cast and distinguishing their personalities in a way that feels organic. He’s most successful at making them relatable, which is aided by the fact that Buddy is quite clearly intended to be an everyman. Aside from a rather puzzling (and uncomfortable) scene wherein Ellen is accosted by a disgusting hunter in a forest, this arc is well-written and engaging. Morrison’s decision to take aim at animal testing, pivoting the theme of the series towards animal rights, is clever and unique.

The issues that follow the opening arc are one-and-done stories, which all vary in quality and memorability. There’s some very clear experimentation going on and this helps guide the title towards its eventual transition to being a Vertigo imprint. For instance, one issue sees Animal Man encountering a humanoid coyote that seemingly cannot be killed. One scene involves a pseudo-Looney Tunes sequence wherein we see the origins of this coyote and why he cannot die. It’s certainly not something you’d expect from a superhero comic, but was not wholly unusual given the level of experimentation with the genre around this time.

Action and story aren’t the focus of Animal Man. Anyone expecting pulse-pounding suspense will be sorely disappointed. Instead, the series is more firmly rooted in the exploration and development of its characters. It’s not hard to relate to Animal Man. He’s just some guy trying to raise a family while following his dreams and figuring out just who the hell he is in the process. His budding interest in championing for animal rights and his decision to commit to vegetarianism endears him personally to me, as I myself am an animal lover. While Buddy is multi-dimensional and easy to relate to, I can’t say the same of his wife. Morrison casts her exclusively as a nagging shrew, constantly dogging Buddy for his every decision. Though she certainly has valid reasons to express concern over Buddy becoming a hero and not being forthcoming with her, her entire role in the series thus far seems to be all too stereotypical. It would have been far more interesting to know what makes Ellen Baker tic and to better illustrate her parenting style, thus helping her seem more sympathetic.

Animal Man is a fascinating blast from the past. It’s a taste of the creative boom that occurred in the late-‘80s at DC Comics. Morrison does a fantastic job of presenting Animal Man to his readers and creates a truly unique comic that somehow typifies the era in which it was originally published. Similarly, Chas Truog delivers some really dynamic art as the book’s primary penciller. The style is very sparse and simple, allowing for characters to be expressive and this further makes room for some fantastically vibrant colours. Animal Man is a great title for anyone looking to delve into back issues of one of DC’s most underrated heroes. It’s also perfect for people who are fans of Grant Morrison as a writer.

RATING: B